Journal of Life ~ The Man in Your life

Did you ever realize that, throughout your life there is someone who’s looking after you secretly and quietly. This person would probably be the first person for you to ask for money to buy your favorite stuffs.

There is a person in each and everyone’s lives, a very important man whom we all sometimes failed to realize the importance until perhaps they are gone forever. This is the person whom gave you the very existence of life but normally came second rated when it comes to recognition for love.

How well may I ask, that you understand your father?

He could be a person whom you seldom talk to. The stern and unfriendly stares that shoot you the moment you leave the house. He would be a person who might never ask you how’s work or how are things in school, except when it comes to your grades.

Everyone has their side to tell.

For me, I seldom talk to my father except when it comes to explaining letters which he can’t understand. He told me that one of the reasons that he sent me to school was to help him read those ‘ang mo’ letters that he failed to understand each time.

I’ve never told him that I respect him or love him before. This is the way I was brought up; our expression of family love may not be affectionately.

Due to his work, I hardly had the luxury of my father sending me to school. The only time he picked me up after school was during primary three. He would always stand at that exact same location waiting for me and always bring me to the exact same chicken rice stall without fail. I used to think he loves the chicken rice very much but latter I realized he thought I loved eating it.

Maybe it’s because I’m a guy too and it’s kind of weird to start the ‘I love you dad’ thingy. When it comes to family affection, usually it’s my mum who got all the credit.

Deep down, I know that it must have been very hard for him to struggle and support the family.

It is not easy, as I venture through the valley of uncertainty when I started work. Asking money from your parents is perhaps the easiest source of income that you’ve ever come to realize.

It is not easy, to work 12 hours per night, 360days a year for almost 20years just to rest for 5 days during Lunar New Year.

It is not easy to deal with all the aunties that swarmed to the market looking for the freshest fish. Sometimes you would be blamed for forgetting to reserve some fish for them and they would speak ill of you behind your back.

It is not easy to source for the freshest fish to sell and let alone processing them. There were countless of times when he cut himself while cutting a fish. The worst period was a one week infection on his thumb caused by a fish bone.

However…

It was easy though, for me to ask him to buy me a $3000 personal computer when I entered poly which I used it more for games than for ‘school related’ purpose.

It was easy, for me to ask him to support me for my further education without even checking with him whether he has money.

It was easiest, for me to ask him to support me for my wedding preparations incase I ran out of money.

All these happened probably because he was my dad, someone whom I would ask shamelessly for money when I’m in need.

I’m blissful and fortunate that my father is still in relatively good health, except for high blood pressure medication which he has to take to control his blood pressure.

During the last few months, I can genuinely see the joy from him and all the efforts that he is putting in for my wedding preparations.

Someday, I would become someone’s father. Will I be a good father and take care of my children tirelessly?

It is very easy to forget how much effort and hard work that all our fathers have put into our family.

For guys, I’ve figured that you don’t really need to tell them that you love them. You can massage his back for him. You can sit down and talk to him or just give a tap on his shoulder.

I know you father will know and understands.

For your father, chosen by God, is the creator of your life.

Sometimes we only know his very existence but never realized his importance.

Happy Fathers Day, 21^st June 2009

Journal of Life ~ The wealth you have in life

This morning I checked my bank balance and it didn’t surprise me. It’s so common that I’m always down to my very last dollar before payday. My wife looked at me and shook her head, “Oh well you will pull through, it’s just a day or two. Luckily my payday is a few days before yours”

She handed two ten dollars note for me to survive the day.

I sighed and past through the day feeling ashamed of myself getting into the current situation.

Deep in my heart I had often wished that I had more money in my bank… so that I can buy my wife her favorite bag. Perhaps I can bring my dad and mum out on a holiday so that they can have a good rest.

Looking at the two ten dollars note that my wife gave me, a thought came to my mind like a gush of wind.

“What is the wealth that I’m looking for?”

“Is it the tens of thousands of dollar that your bank book showed? Or is it having the latest gadget to show off to the world that you can afford?”

It took me a long bus journey to think through the whole question.

What do I have currently?

I have my lovable wife.

Someone who show me her true self every time.

When she is pissed off at me, she will throw a lot of tantrum or even to the extent of throwing stuffs at me. When the storm passed, she will be cheerful and likeable self.

Someone who will depend on me for everything she needs. Because she said it is my duty to take care of her, so I cannot be sick and must live longer than her.

Someone with high expectations in life and this would provide the drive that makes me survive in a cruel and political office environment.

I have a close knitted family whom I will come home for dinner whenever I have the chance. I have parents who will forgive my past and they are of good health.

Though I’m not blessed with excellent health, I’m glad that I have a chance to make myself healthier.

When I looked at the two ten dollar notes in my hand, it was worth like thousands. Because it was given to me by someone who loved me very much

Life is not about how much money you have in your bank... it is about the people surrounding you.

Perhaps that's why even with $14.53 in my bank I would still smile...

For this is not what I have, this is what I’m living my life for.

To put bread on the table where it rightfully belongs

Journal of Life ~ what makes a good relationship?


Whenever there’s a quarrel or argument between my friends and their partners, they would end up asking me this old fashion question of ‘What makes a good relationship?’

Most of the time, I just shrugged and said that I don’t really know.

‘You must be joking, you love your wife so much and you always give in a lot to her’
That’s what some general comments.
It would always end with ‘and you are spoiling her for all the goodness.’

“You are just looking one sided.” That’s what I always remind them.

There are many things which we won’t know in a relationship.

Every relationship has similarities and differences. One thing we know, a relationship begins with two persons with a common view but ends with one person having different views.

I treat my wife well not because I have to, it’s because I want to.
I spoilt her because of all the sacrifices that she made for me in order for us to be together.

It’s not easy for someone to travel and live in a foreign place so far away from her parents and relatives and had so little friends to count on when she needs the support.

I remembered there was once when we quarreled and she was so distress with herself. Not because of the quarrel but because there’s no other place for her to go to other than my room.

It’s not easy to suddenly move into my house and stayed with my parents and aunt. She had to endure their differences in personality, behavior and ways of living.

I sometimes asked my wife why are we together? I’m not handsome or rich. There are many things she longed and I can only owe her at this moment.

Perhaps it’s just plain simple, it’s because I treat her same ever since the day I know her. I would plan for all the major things in life and allow my shoulders for her to lie on.

I know couples who don’t talk much after their marriage. They would just lie down on their bed and kiss goodnight before turning their back to each other. I know couples who still behave like courtship and no one would know they already have kids.

Maybe the definition of a good relationship is just keeping the same feeling towards each other the moment you feel that he/she is the one for you. Not just having the same feeling but also showing the same affection and attention as the first moment the relationship started.

Remembering the times when the two of you went for a late night show and walked all the way home? Or waiting for her outside her office with a bunch of roses as she knocked off?

Being romantic is not asking you to do something that is done in the movies. To me, being romantic to your loved one is doing the things that you ever did for her/him and made her/him remembered until today.

It’s the littlest and simplest things which we think it is no longer needed to be done that spur a relationship to go on.

So what if you know each other for 20 years or married for 5 years?
Didn’t the two of you fell in love with each other because of the way you were treated?

Redo the things which you ever did for your love, she may find it a bit silly and perhaps she would tell you that it’s no need to.

Just tell her, “Honey, I haven’t changed since day one….”

This is Love, nothing strengthen a relationship like rekindling one.

Journal of Life ~ The meaning of your life

“Remember, if you made a mistake, you simply need to press Ctrl-Z for undo and the software will undo the previous error made.” I’ll sure that we are very familiar with the Ctrl-Z command throughout whatever software that we were taught or used. Sometimes we might even ask ourselves this question “Why can’t life be as easy as the way it seems to be? Why can’t we erase the mistake that we’ve made and live like it never happened before?”

Everyday we are fed with enough frustration and stress to keep us thinking ‘life really sucks isn’t it?’ Have we ever taken a step backwards or even slow down to realize that there is obviously a better way to live?

Life is the most complex thing that you will ever come across. From creation to end, from existence to extinction. There’s no explanation yet and there shall be none even till the day that your life ends. As far as we all know that life is mystical, we still can’t understand a single bit of it. We are taught things and remembering them and in return teach others and the cycle goes on and on.

Life is made up of memories and only people who have memories will have a life… Sometimes you rekindled the sad times that made you cried your heart out and perhaps the happier times that still put a smile one your face.

Life is made up of experience, you will learn about one thing being shown and taught and you will remember it for a long long time. Though how much we want to remove our past experience and memories, we can’t. Because it is already part of our life.

Life is made up of feelings. You cry when you are sad, you fear when you’re alone. You will feel a sense of relieve when everything is over.

Life is made up of caring and sharing with others. Admit it; helping others makes your day no matter how tired you are. Even a simple pat on the back on a tired man can stir enough energy to last him on his task.

Life is made up of Love. “People who lived without loving are never considered to have lived before.” Love is the affectionate feelings developed between mutual parties through time, experience and memories unifies in one.

Life is You. Though there’s no spiritual prove, you are in control of your life. You can end if anytime, prolong it anytime, enjoy it anytime and love it anytime.

If the day comes when you realized that you want to end your life once and for all due to some unhappy memories, unpleasant experience. Read this passage and think one more time from the beginning before you made any mistake. Tell yourself that ending a life is something that cannot be revived by keying Ctrl-Z. Won’t it be better that you live through all the bad times and show others how good you are when the time comes for you to give advice?

“Although life sucks, living a rotten life leads to a fulfilling future, not because you lived through it but you’ve overcome it…”

Love yourself before you claim your love towards others.

This is Life, before the Love.

Journal of Life ~ The greatest love story of all

When was the last time you've read a love story so nice that you felt almost living in it?
Was it through some novels or movies that you watched?
Was it through the mouth of someone you know that truly describe the experiences of love and courtship?

You laid back and dream so much that you would experience such a life.
Everyone will have their definition of the greatest love story.

I would believe that you will never forget a really touching love story that has a happy ending.
If you ask me what is the greatest love story that I've read?
I would say it didn't come from any movies nor books.

But the whole love story is meaningful in a way because I was part of it.
Nope, not my love story... but my parent's

I personally think the greatest love story comes straight from your parent.
No disrespect to those people whose parent divorced but to me they would have gone through many years of love before it was end.

Ask yourself.

Have you ever ask your parents how did they know each other and how did your father manage to court your mum?
Where do they used to date and what present did your father buy for her?
I don't know how many of us would really know what happened then.

Its amazing that sometimes we come to know the things that we often won't have a stand to. It's like reading a story that was a prologue of your life.

My mum would tell us the things which my dad did when they were dating.
She said he would bring her to eat 'his' favorite food, either fishball noodles or duck rice.
They would go movie too at $1 per person. Finally he would walk her home because it was economical that way compared to taking bus.

Both my parents came from poor background and they had to live through so much thick and thin to be together. They had their quarrels, their happiness, their ups & downs throughout the many years since they met.

My mum sometimes would complain that she made a wrong choice in marrying to my dad, simply because her life didn't got better.
Deep down, she really care for him.

When she knew he had high blood pressure, she would find means and ways to restrict his diet and watch everything he eat. She would ask him to check his blood pressure everytime and put lesser salt in all her dishes.

My dad is just a simple man to me.
Someone who does his job duly and make sure that there is money enough to feed everyone.
He's not a romeo who goes through great effort and extend to love my mum.
He would just silently rub her back whenever she complained about her backache from doing so much house chores.
He would keep his mouth shut whenever they have an argument to avoid things get heated up.

I know there are people who will be telling me that they hate one of their parent who broke up the family and caused all the current hardship.

Despite what has happened now, what was it like before?
When both of them were still truly in love?

Wasn't that the greatest story of all time?
It's a pity that even the greatest story would have an ending.

Looking back, you are the fruit of their love.
Don't you think you should know the beginning of the greatest love story of all time?

If you don't know what I'm saying, try asking your mum regarding the courtship between them.

I hope it would bring a gentle smile from her face, as she sit back and rekindle the wonderful memories.

This is Love, the greatest love story of all time, the love of your parents.

Journal of Life – Negative Emotions.


We all know that humans are born with emotions and logical thinking. That ability perhaps is the greatest difference between us and those mammals caged inside the zoo.

Somehow when we are in love, we could be blinded by our logical thinking and filled with negative emotions that sometimes we cannot control.

In the beginning, there were only the two of you.

You would call her everyday and she would send lovely messages every opportunity that she could. Everything would be so lovely and complete between the two of you that you would have thought that only the two of you survive on this lonely planet.

That would not be the case as time proved otherwise.

You would want to have some time with your friends, some time on your hobby and perhaps some time to catch up on your sleep.

She would want some time to go for her spa sessions, some time to go shopping.

Soon enough, you would begin to feel a gap between the two of you.

Possession

The feeling of jealousy arises when you see her paying more attention to other channels. You would have felt that you are her only companion in life.

You would have wanted him to be by your side in whatever you are doing. The feeling of anxiety aroused you that he could be flirting with someone else when he didn’t pick up your call.

Last but not least, anger.

The feeling that spur you in blowing everything at her when things don’t go your way. Sometimes verbal but worst of all physical harm to the person whom you claim you would love forever.

I’m very glad I don’t know anyone who abused their love ones.

The closest family abuse incident I had was from a secondary school friend whose father would beat him with his golf stick. He was not a good student and perhaps from the consent beating, anyone would give up. Most of the time, he would hide his wound in school to avoid teachers from questioning.

I have read and hear cases of wife beating and physical abuse in relationships.

In my mind, I only have one question for those people.

If you would harm the person whom you truly love, what sort of a person are you?

The fundamentals of love begin with giving and caring for each other. If you abuse your love ones then you do not really love them. You are merely using them as a venting pot.

The strangest thing however, is not the existence of abusers but the existence of those who lived to be abused.

If you let a person whom claims he loves you harm you, what sort of a person are you?

Is your sacrifice worth the love he proclaimed when he was sane?
Are you the greatest lover in the world to live in the shadow of his torture?

I hope not.

Because we are responsible being.
We are responsible not only for ourselves but also the actions and words that cast upon us.

We choose to love each other therefore we are together.
If you choose to hurt me, we will not be together anymore.
Because it only meant you loved yourself more than anyone else.

Negative emotions are always lurking within a relationship and waiting to strike.

I sincerely hope that anyone reading this would not verbally or physically hurt or cause hurt to your love ones.


(This passage is dedicated to Carmen Lee of "Choose Love, Not Abuse" Campaign that has quite a lot of good response from the Media. Sorry I couldn't attend your invitation for the Dating Violence Awareness Week. For more information, please visit: www.chooselovenotabuse.com )